Women’s shelters are always also child protection shelters, because in fact more children than women find protection in women’s shelters every year (cf. Women's shelter statistics from FHK).
75% of women's shelter residents are mothers. The majority of them are fleeing violence at the hands of their own partners or ex-partners with one or more children. Therefore, women's shelters must always consider the needs of children and provide appropriate services.
Measures by FHK
In close cooperation with shelters and interested professionals, Women's Shelter Coordination gathers practical experience, draws policymakers' attention to gaps in the support system, and supports professionals working with children through training programs and materials. Our activities include:
- Project funding for practice: By April 2026, micro and model projects for women’s shelter children from the FHK funding fund for women's shelter children This micro-funding is made possible through donations from RTL – We Help Children and the Stern Foundation.
- Quality recommendations + practical materials: FHK further develops existing concepts for working with children and young people in women's shelters and produces practical materials on violence prevention and child protection.
- Knowledge transfer and qualification: FHK shares its concepts and expertise in various formats. Since 2021, this includes annual training courses for staff at women's shelters and specialized counseling centers, which FHK implements in cooperation with other organizations and experts.
- Networking: FHK promotes and enables networking and professional exchange between employees in the children's services and related support systems.
- Skilled Worker Portal www.sicher-aufwachsen.org: Platform with materials, instructions and specialist information for professionals who work with children (affected by violence).
- Technical expertise: FHK prepares lectures and expert contributions on the topics of child protection, children's rights and the involvement of children in the context of domestic violence.
- Policy advice: FHK provides expert assessments of proposed legislation in the area of child protection/violence protection and participates in expert committees.
Goals of FHK
The following goals are at the heart of FHK’s commitment to children and young people in the women’s shelter:
- Children and young people should be perceived, included and empowered as independent affected individuals.
- Mothers experience relief and are made aware of the needs of their children.
- Actors in women’s protection are networking and furthering their qualifications.
- Child protection in cases of domestic violence is implemented through reliable and professionally informed cooperative relationships.
